Collapsible backstop

ABSTRACT

A collapsible backstop for stopping and collecting balls is provided that includes a rigid, collapsible, peripheral structure having a plurality of frame members that can be snugly and removably fit to each other to form the peripheral structure. Frame members may be interconnected with a cord to facilitate reassembly. Also included is a web formed of flexible material. A plurality of engagement members are provided for removably mounting the web to the structure to form the backstop. Finally, a rigid base to which the structure is removably mounted is also included. The base may include a plurality of base components that may be removably connected to each other, but interconnected with one or more additional cords, again, to facilitate reassembly. A method of assembling and disassembling such a collapsible backstop may also be provided.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to collapsible backstops having flexible webs for stopping and collecting balls thrown, hit or kicked into them.

BACKGROUND

It has long been a goal to design backstops that can stop and collect balls that are thrown, hit or kicked into them. Many such backstops have been developed that are adequate for the stated purpose. However, they often are difficult to assemble and disassemble by one with little or no prior training or skill in the manipulation of mechanical systems. Parts sometimes end up missing or the units can be assembled improperly, resulting in a structure that might fall apart while in use, thus being nonfunctional or worse yet dangerous.

Moreover, collapsible backstops can rarely be collapsed into a small container. That wasn't so critical in the past when teams often traveled to and from games in buses or other large vehicles. However, now it is much more common than it used to be for teams to travel by air. While airlines are often willing to accept oversized luggage the size of a golf bag, there has been reluctance to accept packages that are larger or heavier than that. Moreover, while there used to be no charge for checked luggage, those fees are now substantial and are only likely to go up in the future.

Therefore, a need has developed for a collapsible backstop that is easy and quick to assemble and disassemble with a minimum of effort or skill, and in such a way that improper assembly is unlikely. An additional need has developed for a collapsible backstop that is so light and compact that it can be carried in a bag that is not too heavy or large to be carried by one person, or even a youth, onto an airplane and put in an overhead compartment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A collapsible backstop for stopping and collecting balls is provided that includes a rigid, collapsible, peripheral structure having a plurality of frame members that can be snugly and removably fit to each other to form the peripheral structure. At least some of the frame members may be interconnected with at least one cord so that when the frame members are disassembled from one another, those frame members that are interconnected remain so in order to facilitate reassembly. A rigid base to which the peripheral structure is removably mounted is also included. The base may include a plurality of base components, at least some of which may be rigidly and removably connected to each other. At least some of those components may be interconnected to each other by at least one additional cord so that those components that are interconnected remain so in order to facilitate reassembly. Also included is a web that is formed of flexible material such as netting. A plurality of engagement members are provided for removably mounting the web to the structure at a plurality of points to form the backstop.

Another aspect of the invention is a method of assembling a backstop for stopping and collecting balls. The method includes a number of steps, not necessarily in the following order. One step is to select a plurality of rigid, substantially straight frame members. Another step is to snugly and removably mount the frame members to one another to form a rigid peripheral structure. A plurality of rigid base components are selected that may be snugly and removably mounted to one another to form a rigid base. At least two of the frame members may be snugly and removably mounted to at least two of the base components. At least one flexible cord may be selected that extends through at least some of the frame members and at least some of the components so that when the at least some of the members and components are disassembled, they remain interconnected to facilitate reassembly. A web formed of flexible material is selected. The web is removably mounted to the peripheral structure and to the base using a plurality of engagement members, thereby forming the backstop.

A method of disassembling the backstop and packing it into a container may also be provided. That method may include the following steps, not necessarily in the order recited. The web is removed from the peripheral structure and the base by disconnecting the engagement members. The frame members may be removed from the base components. The frame members may be disconnected from one another and the frame members may be folded against each other with the frame members being interconnected only by the at least one cord. The base components may be disconnected from one another and the base components may be folded against each other with the base components being interconnected only by the at least one cord. The web, frame members and base components may then be fitted into a relatively small bag or other container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description thereof when read in conjunction with the attached drawings, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the present invention, fully assembled and ready to be used, taken from a front angle, with an arrow designating a direction from which a ball may be thrown, hit or kicked;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, fully assembled and ready to be used, taken from a rear angle, with an arrow designating a direction from which a ball may be thrown or hit;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the fully assembled embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of an upper corner of the embodiment of FIG. 1, showing a manner in which a corner of the web may be mounted to the peripheral structure through the use of an engagement member;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary perspective view of a side of the embodiment of FIG. 1, showing a manner in which a side of the web may be mounted to the peripheral structure through the use of a different type of engagement member;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a container or bag into which the embodiment of FIG. 1 may be fitted;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of two adjacent frame members, with one being snugly fitted into the other, and a resilient cord permitting them to be pulled apart or tensioned toward one another;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of two adjacent frame members, showing them having been pulled apart and folded against each other with the frame members being interconnected only by a resilient cord;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing two frame members being snugly fitted with respect to each other and a resilient cord holding them in place;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with the frame members and the base components being pulled apart and folded against each other, ready to be fitted into the bag; and

FIG. 11 is a side elevation sectional view of the base of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Reference will now be made to the drawings wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout. For ease of description, the components of embodiments of the present disclosure are described in the normal (upright) operating position, and terms such as upper, lower, horizontal, etc., are used with reference to this position. It will be understood, however, that the components of embodiments of the present disclosure may be manufactured, stored, transported, used, and sold in an orientation other than the position described.

Figures illustrating the components of embodiments of the present disclosure show some conventional mechanical elements that may be known and that may be recognized by one skilled in the art. The detailed descriptions of such elements are not necessary to an understanding of the disclosure and accordingly are herein presented only to the degree necessary to facilitate an understanding of the novel features of the present disclosure.

As used herein and in the appended claims, the term “comprising” is inclusive or open-ended and does not exclude additional unrecited elements, compositional components, or method steps. Accordingly, the term “comprising” encompasses the more restrictive terms “consisting essentially of” and “consisting of.”

It must be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. Similarly, the use of substantially any plural terms herein may be translated by those having skill in the art from the plural to the singular as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for the sake of clarity.

In those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, and C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense that one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “an apparatus having at least one of A, B, and C” would include but not be limited to apparatuses that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”

As will be understood by one skilled in the art, for any and all purposes, such as in terms of providing a written description, all ranges disclosed herein also encompass any and all possible subranges and combinations of subranges thereof Any listed range can be easily recognized as sufficiently describing and enabling the same range being broken down into at least equal halves, thirds, quarters, fifths, tenths, etc. As a non-limiting example, each range discussed herein can be readily broken down into a lower third, middle third and upper third, etc. As will also be understood by one skilled in the art, all language such as “up to,” “at least,” “greater than,” “less than,” and the like include the number recited and refer to ranges which can be subsequently broken down into subranges as discussed above. Finally, as will be understood by one skilled in the art, a range includes each individual member. Thus, for example, a group having 1-3 elements refers to groups having 1, 2, or 3 elements. Similarly, a group having 1-5 elements refers to groups having 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 elements, and so forth.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which embodiments of the present invention pertain. Although a number of methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice of the present invention, the preferred materials and methods are described herein.

One form the collapsible backstop may take is depicted generally in FIGS. 1-3 and identified with the numeral 10. An arrow is included in FIGS. 1 and 3, showing the general direction a struck, thrown or kicked softball, hardball, soccer or other ball may take when the backstop 10 is in use. Backstop 10 includes a peripheral frame shown generally at 12, a base shown generally at 14 and a web or net shown generally at 16. Web or net 16 is typically formed of flexible material such as fabric netting.

Net 16 is typically mounted to peripheral frame 12 such that the net is taut between side portions of the peripheral frame but is loose at the bottom. This serves two purposes. First, the looseness of the netting enables the backstop to absorb the force of a struck, thrown or kicked ball. Second, additional material 18 that may be included adjacent the bottom of net 16 serves to collect balls that have entered the net for easy collection by the users.

Net 16 may include reinforced peripheral areas, identified generally at 20. These areas, typically located at the top, sides and bottom of net 16, facilitate a sturdy mounting to peripheral frame 12. Reinforced peripheral areas 20 may be in the form of heavy fabric, which may or not be stretchable, although given that the net itself may absorb much of the force of a ball entering the net, heavy reinforcement is normally not necessary. Sometimes it may be advantageous to have reinforced peripheral areas 20 extend across to the back of net at the top, as shown in FIG. 2, to prevent tearing where the weight of the net is being supported by engagement members to be described below.

Suspended from an upper portion of net 16 is a strike zone indicator 22 that is typically formed of a plurality of flexible fabric straps 24 that are normally of a contrasting color compared to the net. Commonly, net 16 is black or some other dark color, and strike zone indicator 22 is typically white or some other light color.

As noted above, a plurality of engagement members may be included to mount net 16 to peripheral frame 12. In the depicted embodiment these engagement members may take the form of caribiners 26 (see FIG. 4) that mount the upper portion of net 16 to peripheral frame 12, velcroed fabric panels 28 (see FIG. 5) that mount the side portions of the net to the peripheral frame, and a pair of stretchable loops 32 (FIGS. 1-3) that mount the net to base 14. To ensure that net 16 is stretched taut across the top of peripheral frame 12, caribiners 26 may be clipped to mounting rings 30 that may be screwed into the corners of the frame. However, it should be understood that any conventional mounting system could be utilized to mount net 16 to peripheral frame 12 and base 14.

As best shown in FIGS. 1-3, peripheral frame 12 may be formed of a plurality of frame members 12 a-i that connect together to form the peripheral frame. In depicted embodiment 10, frame members 12 a-i are round in cross section or cylindrical in shape, but they may alternatively take any number of other cross-sectional shapes. Frame members 12 a-12 i may be substantially straight, meaning that they are straight other than at the two corners. The frame members may be made of plastic or any other hard but light material. Each of the adjacent frame members 12 a-i may be snugly mounted together as shown in FIG. 9. While FIG. 9 shows frame members 12 b and c, it may be said to depict any of the other joints between adjacent frame members. One of the frame members, here frame member 12 b, may have fastened to its end a tight sleeve, which will be designated herein as a crimped inner sleeve 35. This crimped inner sleeve 35 fits into a crimped outer sleeve 31, with the complementing crimped portions 37 designed to hold the crimped inner and outer sleeves 35 and 31 securely and nonreleasably together.

In the depicted embodiment a smooth inner sleeve 33 may be fit securely to the end of frame member 12 c. Smooth inner sleeve 33 is designed to removably slide into crimped outer sleeve 31 and bump up against the end of crimped inner sleeve 35 as shown in FIG. 9. Therefore, it can be seen that smooth inner sleeve 33 at the end of frame member 12 c is in the depicted embodiment designed to be removed from crimped outer sleeve 31 when backstop 10 is being disassembled, while crimped inner sleeve 35 and its frame member 12 b will remain fixed within crimped outer sleeve 31. That may be true for every other or second one of the frame members in the depicted embodiment; that is, frame members 12 d, 12 f, and 12 h. In depicted embodiment 10 sleeves 31, 33 and 35 are cylindrical in shape in order to match the shape of frame members 12 a-i, but they may take any other shape to complement the configuration of the frame members.

Distal or lowest ends of frame members 12 a and 12 i each includes an annular shoulder 34 a and 34 i and cylindrical ends 36 a and 36 i, as seen best in FIGS. 10 and 11. As will be explained below, these distal or lowest ends 12 a and 12 i and their cylindrical ends 36 a and 36 i fit snugly but removably into base 14.

Frame members 12 a, 12 c, 12 e, 12 g, and 12 i can easily be removed from one of crimped outer sleeves 31 (frame members 12 b and 12 c being depicted in FIGS. 7 and 8). FIGS. 7-9 show how one or more flexible, resilient cords, one of which is shown at 38, keep adjacent frame members 12 a-i interconnected even when they are not mounted to each other. Cord 38 permits frame members 12 a-i to be folded against each other so that they are substantially parallel as shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, but keeps adjacent frame members interconnected for ease of reassembly. The fact that cord 38 may be resilient results in adjacent frame members 12 a-i being pulled toward each other when they are unpacked from a container such as bag 40 and manipulated to extended positions, thus further easing the assembly process. Another option (not depicted) instead of using a resilient cord is to include a nonresilient but flexible cord and include springs or other resilient members at the ends or at any midportion thereof, as explained below with respect to base 14 and its cords 54.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, base 14 is comprised of a number of substantially straight components. Substantially straight as used herein means that they are straight other than at the corners or perhaps where they are fitted to other members. The base components are typically fabricated of aluminum although they may be plastic or any other hard, relatively light material.

Base 14 includes a pair of base ends 42 and 44. Each base end may include an extension portion 42 a or 44 a. Each extension portion 42 a and 44 a may terminate in a T-shaped member comprised of a hollow, cylindrical upright post 42 b or 44 b and a pair of leg supports 42 c and 42 d or 44 c and 44 d. Legs 46 a, 46 b, 48 a and 48 b each mount to one of four leg mounting members 58 (see FIG. 11) that extend into each of leg supports 42 c, 42 d, 44 c and 44 d, respectively. This permits a snug but removable fit. A base cord 54 may extend between each of legs 46 a and 46 b, and between legs 48 b and 48 c. In the depicted embodiment each of these base cords 54 may include an inner cord 50 and a cover 60, although any other type of flexible, relatively small diameter cord may be utilized. In the depicted embodiment base cords 54 are not resilient or extensible, as they are mounted to a cord engagement member 56 shown in phantom in FIG. 10. In this embodiment a spring (not shown) is provided in each cord engagement member 56 to pull base cords 54 taut. Alternatively, other biasing means may be included at the cord engagement member, or the base cord may be resilient like cord 38 that extends through frame members 12 a-12 i.

In the depicted embodiment a central base portion 52 is provided between base extension portions 42 a and 44 a. Central base portion 52 may have a spring loaded button 62 adjacent each end (see FIGS. 1 and 10), with a complementing hole adjacent the end of each base extension portion 42 a and 44 a to receive the button when the central base portion is mounted in place. In the depicted embodiment the components of the base are cylindrical or round in cross section, like frame members 12 a-12 i, but they may also take any other conventional shape. In the event a shape other than cylindrical is used, the cylindrical upright posts 42 b and 44 b would typically take a complementing cross sectional shape.

As suggested above, peripheral frame 12 may fit into base 14 by cylindrical ends 36 a and 36 i fitting snugly but removably into upright posts 42 b and 44 b such that annular shoulders 34 a and 34 i rest on the upper edge of the upright posts. Thus, base 14 forms the fourth side of a rectangle, thereby forming the backstop. Peripheral frame 12 and its frame members 12 a-i typically are not interconnected to base 14 and upright posts 42 b and 44 b by cords, but they may be in certain applications such that the entire peripheral frame and base is interconnected.

In order to assemble backstop 10, the backstop is first removed from bag 40. The order of the assembly steps is not critical, but frame members 12 a-i may be manipulated to an extended position from the folded over position depicted in FIG. 9. Once frame members 12 a-i are extended, cords 38 will tend to pull the ends of the frame members into sleeves 31 of the adjacent frame members. Thus, the smooth inner sleeves 33 of frame members 12 a-12 i fit into crimped outer sleeves 31 (see FIG. 9) to snugly but removably mount the adjacent frame members to one another. By fitting frame members 12 a-i together, the substantially U-shaped peripheral frame 12 is formed. Another way to describe the configuration of the peripheral frame is as three sides of a rectangle.

Base 14 may be assembled before or after peripheral frame 12. To assemble the base, legs 46 a and b are manipulated to their extended positions so they may be fitted to leg supports 42 c and 42 d, and legs 48 a and b may be fitted to leg supports 44 c and 44 d. Spring biased cords 54 ease that assembly process. Central base portion 52 is fitted into the inward-facing ends of base extension portions 42 a and 44 a by depressing buttons 62 and permitting the buttons to fit into the complementing holes in the inward-facing ends of the base extension portions.

Once the peripheral frame 12 and base 14 are assembled, they may be mounted to each other by fitting cylindrical ends 36 a or 36 i into upright members 42 b or 44 b until annular shoulders 34 a or 34 i abut the top edge of each of the upright members (see FIG. 11). With peripheral frame 12 and base 14 assembled and mounted to each other, net 16 may be rigged up. This may be performed by hooking carabineers 26 to mounting rings 30 and to frame members 12 d, e, and f. Velcroed fabric panels 28 may be wrapped around frame members 12 b and 12 h. Resilient loops 32 may be slid over the legs, such as legs 46 a and 48 a, strike zone indicator 22 is mounted in place using straps 24, and additional material 18 is billowed out behind the backstop 10.

In order to use backstop 10, a ball may be thrown, hit or kicked into net 16 in the direction of the arrow in FIGS. 1 and 3. Whether or not a batter stands in front of backstop 10, strike zone indicator 22 can be used as a target for a pitcher. Regardless of what kind of ball is used or how it is directed into net 16, the force of the ball may be absorbed by the net and the ball drops into the additional material 18. There is normally enough additional material 18 that a number of balls can be retained before they are removed.

To disassemble backstop 10, strike zone indicator 22 may be removed before or after net 16 is removed from peripheral frame 12. Net 16 is removed by unclipping caribiners 26 from mounting rings 30 and from frame members 12 d, e and f. Velcroed fabric panels 28 are removed from frame members 12 b and 12 h, and loops 32 are pulled off legs 46 and 48. Cylindrical ends 36 a and 36 i of lowermost frame members 12 a and 12 i may be removed from upright posts 42 b and 44 b of base 14. The ends of frame members 12 a-12 i are removed from the adjacent sleeves 31, and the frame members are folded over each other such that they are substantially parallel to each other as depicted in FIG. 9. Cord 38 keeps frame members 12 a-12 i interconnected to facilitate an easy reassembly.

Base 14 may be disassembled by removing extension portions 42 a and 44 a from central base portion 52 by depressing buttons 62. Legs 46 a and 46 b are removed from leg supports 42 c and 42 d, and legs 48 a and 48 b are removed from leg supports 44 c and 44 d. Base cords 54 maintain the parts of base 14 interconnected as they are folded over to substantially parallel positions depicted in FIG. 9 in order to facilitate an easy reassembly.

Although certain embodiments have been illustrated and described herein for purposes of description, this application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the embodiments discussed herein. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that embodiments described herein be limited only by the claims. 

What is claimed:
 1. A collapsible backstop for stopping balls, comprising: a rigid, collapsible, peripheral structure including a plurality of frame members that can be snugly and removably fit to each other and thereby form the structure, at least some of the frame members being interconnected with at least one flexible cord so that when the frame members are disassembled from one another, those frame members that are interconnected remain so in order to facilitate reassembly; a web formed of flexible material; a plurality of engagement members for removably mounting the web to the structure at a plurality of points to form the backstop; and a rigid base to which the structure is removably mounted, the base including a plurality of components, at least some of which may be rigidly and removably connected to each other, at least some of the components being interconnected to each other by at least one additional flexible cord so that those components that are interconnected remain so in order to facilitate reassembly.
 2. The collapsible backstop of claim 1 wherein none of the frame members and the components are longer than 4 feet.
 3. The collapsible backstop of claim 1 wherein the peripheral structure is substantially rectangular and the frame members are relatively straight.
 4. The collapsible backstop of claim 3 wherein the components are substantially straight.
 5. The collapsible backstop of claim 1 wherein when the frame members are mounted to one another they form three legs of a rectangle, and the base forms the fourth side of the rectangle when the structure is mounted to the base.
 6. The collapsible backstop of claim 1 wherein the cord that interconnects at least some of the frame members is resilient.
 7. The collapsible backstop of claim 1 wherein all of the frame members are interconnected with the at least one cord.
 8. The collapsible backstop of claim 1 wherein the at least one additional cord to interconnect at least some of the components comprises at least one resilient cord.
 9. The collapsible backstop of claim 1 wherein the web includes additional flexible material at a lower portion thereof to collect balls that hit the net and fall into the lower portion.
 10. The collapsible backstop of claim 9 wherein the additional flexible material is formed of the same material as the rest of the web.
 11. A collapsible backstop for stopping and collecting balls, comprising: a rigid, collapsible, substantially rectangular structure including a plurality of substantially straight frame members that can be snugly and removably fit to each other and thereby form the structure; a net formed of flexible netting; a plurality of engagement members for removably mounting the net to the structure at a plurality of points to form the backstop; a rigid base to which the structure is removably mounted, the base including a plurality of substantially straight, rigid components that may be rigidly and removably connected to each other; at least one flexible cord that extends through at least some of the frame members and at least some of the components so that when the at least some of the members and components are disassembled, they remain interconnected to facilitate reassembly; and wherein when the net is mounted to the structure, the net includes additional netting so that the net is not taut between the structure at all points and the additional netting absorbs the force from a ball being thrown or hit into the net, and permits the additional netting to collect balls that are hit into the net.
 12. A method for assembling a backstop for stopping and collecting balls, comprising the following steps, not necessarily in the order recited: selecting a plurality of rigid, substantially straight frame members that are interconnected with one another with at least one cord; snugly and removably mounting the frame members to one another to form a rigid peripheral structure; selecting a plurality of rigid base components that are interconnected to one another with at least one additional cord; snugly and removably mounting the base components to one another to form a rigid base; snugly and removably mounting at least two of the frame members to at least two of the base components; selecting a web formed of flexible material; and removably mounting the web to the peripheral structure and to the base using a plurality of engagement members, thereby forming the backstop.
 13. The method of claim 12 wherein the steps of selecting frame members and base components comprises selecting frame members and base components that are no longer than four feet long.
 14. The method of claim 12, further comprising a method of disassembling the backstop and packing it into a container, comprising the following steps, not necessarily in the order recited: removing the web from the peripheral structure and the base by disconnecting the engagement members; removing the frame members from the base components; disconnecting the frame members from one another and folding the frame members against each other with the frame members being interconnected only by the at least one cord; and disconnecting the base components from one another and folding the base components against each other with the base components being interconnected only by the at least one cord; and fitting the web, frame members and base components into the container.
 15. The method of claim 14 wherein the steps of selecting frame members and base components comprises selecting frame members and base components that are no longer than four feet long so that the container into which the web, frame members and base components are fitted needs to be no longer than four feet.
 16. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of folding the frame members against each other comprises folding the frame members against each other such that the frame members are substantially parallel to each other and the step of folding the base components against each other comprises folding the base components against each other such that the base components are substantially parallel to each other, whereby the container into which the frame members and base components are fitted can be compact.
 17. The method of claim 12 wherein the step of selecting a plurality of rigid, substantially straight frame members that are interconnected with one another with at least one cord comprises selecting a plurality of rigid, substantially straight frame members that are interconnected with one another with at least one flexible cord. 